How much is that dead dogie or cat in the window ?

The Economist ^ | Febriary 27th 2003 | Editorial

[nmh]

The fur trade

Puppy love

Feb 27th 2003 | BRUSSELS

From The Economist print edition

How much is that dead doggy or cat in the window?

CAT PELTS, a golden-retriever rug and a full-length coat made from 42 German shepherd PUPPIES make the office of Struan Stevenson seem like a set from a dark version of “101 Dalmatians”. But this is not proof that the British Conservative MEP is a modern Cruella de Vil. It is evidence in his campaign for a European Union ban on trade in CAT and DOG fur. Each item was bought in a big European city, he says.

Three years ago, revelations that what are usually regarded as FAMILY PETS are being bred by the million—mostly in China—for the fur trade, provoked America's Congress into passing the Cat and Dog Protection Act. According to America's Humane Society, which highlighted the trade, the focus of exports is now Europe, where fluffy CAT and DOG skins now account for a large number of coat trims, snow-boot linings and hairbands in even the most respectable mainstream shops—with consumers, and probably the shops themselves, blissfully unaware that they are buying and selling ex-Rovers and Felixes.

The thought that consumers might start to wonder if hat mink (nasty creature, deserves to die) is really a cute domestic moggy (ahhh!) is the last thing the rest of the fur trade needs now. It is growing steadily again, despite the best efforts of campaigners to make wearing fur socially unacceptable: remember the ads featuring models saying they would rather go naked than wear fur?

Which is why, although the EU seems unlikely to copy America's outright ban, the “respectable” fur trade will do all it can to stamp out imports of cat and dog. Members of the International Fur Trade Federation (IFTF) already have a self-imposed ban on cat and dog fur. Next September, the IFTF will introduce stricter labelling, showing the source of fur in English, the local language and Latin. Will that beat labels such as “Asian wolf” and “Dogues du Chine” that are now used?

[nmh]

These people are utterly disgusting! China, the EU and the UK are behaving as badly as Hitler. Maybe we'll see dogs skin lamp shades or cat skin gloves. Once you go down this road (extreme cruelty for profit) ... the sky is the limit.

[Fedupwithit]

Would this artile be like Mr. Burns singing "See my Vest" after buying Bart's greyhounds?

: )

How's things...long time no Simpsons..

[anniegetyourgun]

Great, just what we'd all want....more shedding....

[RS]

"Would this artile be like Mr. Burns singing "See my Vest" after buying Bart's greyhounds?"

I like the Futurama episode where it was cheaper to genetically engineer cute little teddy bears and stuff them ( then have them made in China presumably )

[nmh]

Mind you, I'm not a PETA person but this is disgusting!

[nmh]

We get the print edition of this magazine and this nearly made me vomit. I hate to post it.

[joesnuffy]

The South Korean torture/killing of dogs and cats for occult/sex potions
is equally disgusting imo...when this becomes an "Anti-American statement/fad among S Koreans even more so...
Of course if S Korea were abandoned China could pick up their tech slack no problemo

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

You see, some men hunt for sport,
others hunt for food
The only thing I'm hunting for
Is an outfit that looks good

See my vest, see my vest,
made from real gorilla chest
See this sweater there's no better
than authentic Irish setter

see this hat, 'twas my cat
My evening wear a vampire bat
This white slippers are albino
African endangered rhino

Grizzly bear underwear
Turtles necks I've got my share
Beret of poodle on my noodle it shall rest!
Try my red robin suit
It comes one breast or two

see my vest, see my vest, see my vest
Like my loafers
former gophers
It was that or skin my chauffeurs
But a greyhound fur tuxedo would be best

So lets prepare these dogs
kill two for matching clogs
see my vest
see my vest
oh, please, won't you see my veesssst

[MotleyGirl70]

Say what? Santa's Little Helper is still on the lowest food chain in the Simpson's home. Even the cat "with no name" takes more charge. Poor puppy. CATS STILL RULE!

[anniegetyourgun]

I believe you. I just can't imagine there is much of a market for this. But hey, there seem to be all kinds in this world.

[steveo]

Even the cat "with no name" takes more charge.

The cat's name was Snowball or Snowball 2 since the first one was run over in the street.

[tet68]

I don't know, maybe a French Poodle lining for my
kevlar helmet wouldn't be a bad thing?

[csvset]

Snowball

Snowball II

[MotleyGirl70]

Pay dirt!

[Katya]

Okay, I guess I'll have to play the role of the heartless instigator....
First, it's not that I'd ever consider wearing any "pet" fur coats, simply because I don't like fur, but please tell me why it is worse to kill a cat or dog for fur than another domesticated animal?
Among the animals residing in our home are two rabbits. Yet I don't go aghast that folks use rabbit fur for cover, just because I prefer to harvest my Angora's for wool and keep them living.
One of my neighbor's has 3 decorative pet sheep, who give the yard a bucolic look. I suppose it's horrible their daughter sports a nice lambskin jacket made from some anonymous donor.

[aruanan]

These people are utterly disgusting! China, the EU and the UK are behaving as badly as Hitler. Maybe we'll see dogs skin lamp shades or cat skin gloves. Once you go down this road (extreme cruelty for profit) ... the sky is the limit.

The only difference between raising dogs and cats for meat and fur and raising chickens for meat and eggs is that more people form emotional attachments to dogs and cats than to chickens. The greater the attribution of nobility, or intelligence and/or affection in the animal (puppies or kittens > adult animals, well-behaved adult dogs and cats > feral versions, birds that talk > birds, such as chickens, that don't, birds that sing > birds that don't, birds of prey > carrion feeders), the greater the emotional attachment--though this is a little less than fully apparent in cat lovers.

[DBtoo]

I saw a documentary on this a few years ago. It was horrifying. I was hoping since this trade had been exposed that it had been stopped.

I'm surprised that Europeans would knowingly buy such products, as they tend to like and have pets. I guess in China they don't look at animals in the same way as we do, not dogs and cats anyway.

[DBtoo]

That is sick. I'd probably better quit reading this thread as I'm already in a bad mood. I sure hope animals have souls and go to heaven because so many of them sure do suffer on earth. It would be a shame if they just die. After leading such painful lives they deserve something.

[sinkspur]

I'm surprised that Europeans would knowingly buy such products, as they tend to like and have pets. I guess in China they don't look at animals in the same way as we do, not dogs and cats anyway.

The Chinese would kill and skin you if they got the chance.

Anything for a buck.

[DBtoo]

That's the impression I get from them too.